Skip to main content

Orzo Carbonara

4.0

(38)

Made with bacon, cream and Parmesan cheese, this resembles the spaghetti dish of the same name.

Recipe information

  • Yield

    Makes 8 servings

Ingredients

6 ounces bacon, cut into 1/2-inch pieces
2 tablespoons (1/4 stick) butter
1 pound orzo (rice-shaped pasta)
5 cups (about) canned low-salt chicken broth
1/2 cup whipping cream
1 cup grated Parmesan cheese
1 teaspoon chopped fresh thyme

Preparation

  1. Cook bacon in heavy large saucepan over medium heat until crisp, about 8 minutes. Using slotted spoon, transfer bacon to paper towel and drain. Pour off all but 1 tablespoon drippings from pan. Add butter and cook until butter begins to brown, about 2 minutes; mix in orzo. Add 4 1/2 cups broth; simmer uncovered until orzo is just tender but still firm to bite and broth is absorbed, stirring often, about 8 minutes. Add cream; bring to simmer. Mix in cheese and thyme, then bacon. Season with salt and pepper. Thin with additional broth, if desired.

Read More
Like spicy carrot rigatoni and weeknight-fancy ravioli with peas.
Like lemony baked salmon and strawberry shortcake roll.
Turn humble onions into this thrifty yet luxe pasta dinner.
This one-pot dinner cooks chicken thighs directly on top of a bed of flavorful cilantro rice studded with black beans for a complete dinner.
Keep this easy frittata recipe on hand for quick breakfasts, impressive brunches, and fridge clean-out meals.
A warmly spiced Ashkenazi charoset, perfect for your Passover seder—or spooned over yogurt the next morning.
Crispy, Parmesan-crusted cutlets make this spring dish sing.
A feel-good dinner designed to cram a ton of veg in each serving.